zen

Sogen Yamakawa Roshi once spoke about the terms daihi and daiji: to take away others' pain and to bring others happiness. When we live by daihi and daiji, we are no longer being held hostage by the idea of a separate self. This is the true meaning of taking the transformative step of Jukai. Read more »

Dharma Study meets in the Joshua Forman House. The group, which includes Shinge Roshi and many students, is currently reading and discussing The Book of Rinzai, which is available for purchase in our store.

All are welcome, and no prior reading is necessary.

We will begin Dharma Study at 7:00 pm by meeting in the Carriage House Zendo for a half hour of zazen before moving over to the Forman House.

Please join us Sunday, July 6, for a Dharma Talk by Nikyu Robert Strickland.

Nikyu has been in a sitting practice since 1971, is a co-founder of Zen Center of Syracuse and was authorized to teach by Shinge Roshi in 2012. He has been practicing clinical psychology since 1975 and brings a wealth of insight to all his talks.

The full Sunday service is from 9am to noon. Nikyu's Dharma Talk will begin 10:45.

Dharma Study meets in the Joshua Forman House. The group, which includes Shinge Roshi and many students, is currently reading and discussing The Book of Rinzai, which is available for purchase in our store.

All are welcome, and no prior reading is necessary.

We will begin Dharma Study at 7:00 pm by meeting in the Carriage House Zendo for a half hour of zazen before moving over to the Forman House.

How often are we really present for what is happening in any one moment? Distractibility interferes with our ability to listen, to focus, to respond, and to feel fully alive. This course in the cultivation of attention without tension is offered regularly at the Zen Center, taught by Shinge Roshi, Roko Sherry Chayat. Six evening classes include meditation instruction and practice, group discussion, and light refreshments.

The fee is $125; a reduced rate of $85 is available for students, seniors, and those with limited income.

The purpose of residential training is to establish stability of practice for the community. In order to do that, we make a sustained, wholehearted commitment to practice. We each support and encourage each other in our training, and by taking responsibility for ourselves, we can extend this to the community and world at large. We work to maintain and sustain an atmosphere of training during our time here. Read more »

All are welcome to practice at the Zen Center of Syracuse Hoen-ji. Newcomers are provided with instruction on Thursday evenings; they should arrive by 5:30 p.m. The suggested donation for non-members is $5 each visit. The orientation given is enough to initiate the zazen (sitting meditation) experience. In addition, the introductory course, Deep Presence, taught twice a year by Shinge Roshi, is most helpful.

This course in the cultivation of mindfulness is offered regularly at the Zen Center (about four times a year). Six evening classes include meditation instruction and practice, group discussion, and light refreshments.

About the Class

Anxiety about the economy, world events, job-related stress, and family issues can take a toll on our physical and mental health. We may not be able to control our outer circumstances, but we can develop inner peace and resilience. Read more »